I was in a high end roadie shop today and noticed that Louis Garneau now has a tri shoe out. The guy told me that they were selling very well, and that it’s a damn good shoe at the price point (~$150 CAD compared to ~$260 CAD for the Carnac or the DMT)
The plastic soles felt pretty stiff to my “2 hands bending” test, but he didn’t have any in my size to try on. He said they were a little wide in the toe box compared to some others (Sidi maybe?).
Anyone else seen/tried these?
I have seen but haven’t tried these.
1st impressions? Do you have someone on-staff trying them out? (I remember you being super picky about this stuff due to your prior injuries…)
I hate to be cranky today (I just did a Wildflower rant and rave). However let me tell you about my nice new Garneaus. Bought them a day before Ralphs and they were just fine. I’ve worn them perhaps 3 times since. Yesterday I was late for a group ride and jumped into my car. As I was pulling out I pulled the strap on one of my Garneaus so I could just hop out, grab the bike and helmet and go. Problem was that when I pulled the strap, this cheap little metal buckle SNAPPED. Thank heavens I was close to home and I swung back to pick up spare shoes.
Look at the cheesy buckle on the Garneaus before you buy them…I learned the hard lesson that you get what you pay for. I’m taking them back for a pair of “real” bike shoes later in the week. These shoes are crapola. PS: I still wear a pair of Schwinn Paramount shoes for spin classes (laces) that I bought in 1987. They’re just fine.
I purchased a pair a few weeks ago. I love 'em. Living in Florida and biking every day you better have at least 2 pairs of shoes, cuz they normally don’t dry out over night. My other pair is the new Shimano. I’ve ridden Sidi T1’s for years.
The LG is a great shoe, nice strap, compfy uppers. The strap opens OUT which means you won’t get it stuck in the gears at transition. I don’t think they are as stiff as the Shimano with the full carbon sole, but they are fine. I have narrow feet and they fit very well. I wear a 12.5 and in the LG I’m wearing a 47. My Sidis were either a 47 or 48 and I’m wearing a 48 Shimano.
I second the broken buckle story. Happened on my very first ride with them. Sent them back for a refund.
Great stuff - exactly the type of things I need to know, and very interesting to hear the seemingly polar opinions of them.
Damn I love this joint!
I hate to be cranky today (I just did a Wildflower rant and rave). However let me tell you about my nice new Garneaus. Bought them a day before Ralphs and they were just fine. I’ve worn them perhaps 3 times since. Yesterday I was late for a group ride and jumped into my car. As I was pulling out I pulled the strap on one of my Garneaus so I could just hop out, grab the bike and helmet and go. Problem was that when I pulled the strap, this cheap little metal buckle SNAPPED. Thank heavens I was close to home and I swung back to pick up spare shoes.
Look at the cheesy buckle on the Garneaus before you buy them…I learned the hard lesson that you get what you pay for. I’m taking them back for a pair of “real” bike shoes later in the week. These shoes are crapola. PS: I still wear a pair of Schwinn Paramount shoes for spin classes (laces) that I bought in 1987. They’re just fine.
LG stopped shipping these shoes for a short while earlier this year. They now have a retrofit that allows you to replace the potentially problematic metal loop. It’s beefier and is easily installed once you cut and remove the original ones. Your LG dealer should have some of these for replacement.
Grant
Thanks for the heads-up on the retrofit
.
UK Gear muncher had the same thing happen to his top of the range Specialized shoes as he climbed off the turbo to get to the start line of a TT! Good job he had his skanky old Carnacs to wear.
I guess nothing is foolproof, even after two wearings!! I like my Time Iron Cx shoes, just a little too WHITE!
They now have a retrofit that allows you to replace the potentially problematic metal loop. It’s beefier and is easily installed once you cut and remove the original ones. Your LG dealer should have some of these for replacement.
Since mine are scheduled to be delivered today, do you know if the new run of shoes has the retrofit already on the shoes? Thanks!
These shoes are great! I’ve used them in over 1000 miles and raced in them at them Honolulu Tri in April. Transitions are made easy with shoes.
My only problem was I had Sidi shoes before that fit like glove, but I’ve work through that issue with a few 100 mile rides.
I feelfor the price these are great!
Good luck!
hi, wonder if you o offer a bit of knowledge? My girlfriend just ordered 2 pairs of the tri air shoes to make sure she nailed down the right size and there are two different buckles on them. One is the standard bent wire that is split inside the leather sheath buckle and the other is a much beefier two piece bolt and threaded D-ring type set up. I’m assuming the latter is the newer reinforced strap but do you know which one is which?
Aloha,
Tai
Final word here: Garneau wants me to ship the shoes to them for the replacement buckles which are stronger. It’s not exactly what I wanted to hear as I now need to send these to Vermont, but what the heck. Better than not having them repaired I guess.
it amazes me how items can reach the market with known defects. don’t these people test products before they hit the market or do they just figure people won’t complain and accept it. same thing with the old version of the Giro E2 helmet and the velcro rok lok 3 system. piece of crap and they knew it but sent them to market anyhow.